seasonal rental in the north of portugal minho

An 18th century family estate surrounded by lands and vineyardsin the north of Portugal

Ponte de LimaPT

seasonal rental,

Property owners’ take the floor

Why did you settle in this region, in this place and not elsewhere ?

The estate has been in our family since 1912 and we are the current heirs. After the buildings were restored in 2011, the property has been partly open to rural tourism.

What can you offer people staying with you ?

In addition to tourism and wine production, Quinta de Luou is dedicated to animal husbandry and forestry. We offer an authentic experience in a property that is always open and dedicated to rural tourism. The farm's paths, some of which are still in the traditional "ramadas" style of the region are perfect for a stroll where you can observe the pastures, the vantage points and the very particular way in which the vines are planted. We share demonstrations of our wine making techniques which are followed by wine-tastings in the estate's original cellars. Traditional and regional meals are available upon request for guests to experience the gastronomy of northern Portugal.

What specific architectural features does your building have ?

Quinta de Luou is a typical 18th century Portuguese farmhouse with several buildings including a manor house.
It is a property of twenty-eight hectares, situated on a plateau with a panoramic view of the valley, the adjacent hill, the forest property and the Lima River. Some of the buildings are made entirely from granite stone which is typical of buildings in northern Portugal. For others, the stone is only visible on the frames of the doors and windows. In accordance with other buildings from this time, the full shutters are on the inside of the windows and completely block out the light. A carved stone blazon with the family coat of arms decorates one of the door frames.

Places you would personally recommend

The villages of Ponte de Lima and Ponte da Barca are very close to the estate, here you can still cross the Lima River on a traditional boat known as a "barca". That is why we chose the name "Barca do Lima" for one of our wines. In Ponte de Lima, the "A Carvalheira" restaurant offers a true Alto Minho gastronomic experience. Not far away is "A Ancanada", a Minho speciality restaurant - the most typical dish is cod, followed by lamprey and fish from the Lima River. All of the products are very fresh because the river is right next to it. "Moinho" is another restaurant in a former mill in Ponte da Barca. It offers a rustic atmosphere, friendly service and regional cuisine but the speciality is the lamprey! Hiking lovers can take the 4.1km river trail or the 5.8km Beiral's Farms walk.

What is its history ?

The name "Fernão de Luou" first appears in the Charter of Beiral de Lima in 1515. The Quinta de Luou is located in the small village of Luou, in the parish of Santa Cruz do Lima which is attached to the municipality of Ponte de Lima in northern Portugal - this is where the name comes from. The first mention of "Quinta de Luou" dates back to the 18th century and establishes a link with the "Casa do Fundão" Majorat, located in Loureira (Vila Verde). One of our ancestors, the second viscount of the tower, Alberto Feio da Rocha Páris, died without an heir in 1912 and left the estate to the family of his wife, Maria Cândida Malheiro Reymão, who was our great-grandfather's sister.

Our opinion

This estate exudes nobility, set amid terraced crops, pastures and vineyards. The work of men has shaped the surrounding land to render it fruitful up to the reliefs of the Peneda-Gerês National Park, on the Spanish border, which marks the horizon with its rolling hills in the east. This elegant manor and its old farm buildings are the perfect place to soak up the province of Minho's strong and generous temperament; and what better way to finish a day of excursions than to enjoy a wine tasting at the property in the shade of an arbour or at the edge of the ponds? Inside, the bright and warm colours of the decor are in-keeping with the joy that such a holiday brings.

Casa de Luou is the main house of Quinta de Luou. It is located in the middle of the property and offers panoramic views of the valley and the mountains. It is divided into two apartments, each with a surface area of 350m2.
The apartment on the ground floor has a maximum capacity of eleven people. It consists of a living room, a dining room, a fully equipped kitchen and six bedrooms - two bedrooms with twin beds and a private bathroom, a double bedroom, a single bedroom, two double bedrooms (for small adults or children) and two bathrooms to share.
The first floor apartment, with a maximum capacity of eight people, consists of a large living room with a fireplace, a large dining room, a fully equipped kitchen, two double bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms and two bedrooms with twin beds, each with an en-suite bathroom. Attached to the house are a large flowered green area, garden tables with parasols and a pool which is shared with Casa do Tanque.

The estate has been in our family since 1912 and we are the current heirs. After the buildings were restored in 2011, the property has been partly open to rural tourism.

What specific architectural features does your building have ?

Quinta de Luou is a typical 18th century Portuguese farmhouse with several buildings including a manor house.
It is a property of twenty-eight hectares, situated on a plateau with a panoramic view of the valley, the adjacent hill, the forest property and the Lima River. Some of the buildings are made entirely from granite stone which is typical of buildings in northern Portugal. For others, the stone is only visible on the frames of the doors and windows. In accordance with other buildings from this time, the full shutters are on the inside of the windows and completely block out the light. A carved stone blazon with the family coat of arms decorates one of the door frames.

What is its history ?

The name "Fernão de Luou" first appears in the Charter of Beiral de Lima in 1515. The Quinta de Luou is located in the small village of Luou, in the parish of Santa Cruz do Lima which is attached to the municipality of Ponte de Lima in northern Portugal - this is where the name comes from. The first mention of "Quinta de Luou" dates back to the 18th century and establishes a link with the "Casa do Fundão" Majorat, located in Loureira (Vila Verde). One of our ancestors, the second viscount of the tower, Alberto Feio da Rocha Páris, died without an heir in 1912 and left the estate to the family of his wife, Maria Cândida Malheiro Reymão, who was our great-grandfather's sister.

What can you offer people staying with you ?

In addition to tourism and wine production, Quinta de Luou is dedicated to animal husbandry and forestry. We offer an authentic experience in a property that is always open and dedicated to rural tourism. The farm's paths, some of which are still in the traditional "ramadas" style of the region are perfect for a stroll where you can observe the pastures, the vantage points and the very particular way in which the vines are planted. We share demonstrations of our wine making techniques which are followed by wine-tastings in the estate's original cellars. Traditional and regional meals are available upon request for guests to experience the gastronomy of northern Portugal.

Places you would personally recommend

The villages of Ponte de Lima and Ponte da Barca are very close to the estate, here you can still cross the Lima River on a traditional boat known as a "barca". That is why we chose the name "Barca do Lima" for one of our wines. In Ponte de Lima, the "A Carvalheira" restaurant offers a true Alto Minho gastronomic experience. Not far away is "A Ancanada", a Minho speciality restaurant - the most typical dish is cod, followed by lamprey and fish from the Lima River. All of the products are very fresh because the river is right next to it. "Moinho" is another restaurant in a former mill in Ponte da Barca. It offers a rustic atmosphere, friendly service and regional cuisine but the speciality is the lamprey! Hiking lovers can take the 4.1km river trail or the 5.8km Beiral's Farms walk.

Our opinion

This estate exudes nobility, set amid terraced crops, pastures and vineyards. The work of men has shaped the surrounding land to render it fruitful up to the reliefs of the Peneda-Gerês National Park, on the Spanish border, which marks the horizon with its rolling hills in the east. This elegant manor and its old farm buildings are the perfect place to soak up the province of Minho's strong and generous temperament; and what better way to finish a day of excursions than to enjoy a wine tasting at the property in the shade of an arbour or at the edge of the ponds? Inside, the bright and warm colours of the decor are in-keeping with the joy that such a holiday brings.

Casa de Luou is the main house of Quinta de Luou. It is located in the middle of the property and offers panoramic views of the valley and the mountains. It is divided into two apartments, each with a surface area of 350m2.
The apartment on the ground floor has a maximum capacity of eleven people. It consists of a living room, a dining room, a fully equipped kitchen and six bedrooms - two bedrooms with twin beds and a private bathroom, a double bedroom, a single bedroom, two double bedrooms (for small adults or children) and two bathrooms to share.
The first floor apartment, with a maximum capacity of eight people, consists of a large living room with a fireplace, a large dining room, a fully equipped kitchen, two double bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms and two bedrooms with twin beds, each with an en-suite bathroom. Attached to the house are a large flowered green area, garden tables with parasols and a pool which is shared with Casa do Tanque.